Electrical contact device.



J. M. SMITH. ELECTRICAL CONTACT DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JANJS, 1909.

Patented DeC. 14, 1909.

WITNESSES:

UNTTED TATE L l Fiiifihl.

JAMES M. SMITH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA. ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILSON D. QRAIG WEIGHT, 0! PRHLADELPHIA. PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRICAL CDNTAC'T DEVICE.

Application filed January 13, 1909.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Phihulelphia. in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania. have invented certain new and useful iniprovements in Electrical Contact Devices: and l do hereby declare the following to be, a full. clear. and

will enable others skilled inv the art to which it. appertains to make and use the same.

drawings. and to characters of reference marked thereon. which'torm a part of this specification.

ments in electrical contact devices adapted for use with many of the various kinds-of electrical devlces or appliances, and part1cularly with make and break devices of the *arious kinds and forms; and, the present invention has reference, more particularly.

to a novel electrical contact-device which is capable oi? an extremely minute degree of ad ustment. as well thereof.

The invention has for its principal object to provide a novel. siinpl 1 and etlicient contact-device whichinay be adjusted to a hairs breadth. and which automaticallylocksitself against displacement caused by jarring. vibration. or other extraneous causes to which it may be subjected. and still is easily opcrated for the adjustment of thesanie.

The invention has for a further object to as of a greater degree l the present invention. the same comprising provide a simple construction of contact;

device which may be easily and quickly taken apart for purposes of the cleaning{ and the repairing of the parts, when necessary, without disturbing the appa atus with which it is connected, and the parts of which maybe as easily re-assembled in their operative relations.

Further objects of this invention, not at this time more;particularly set forth, will be apparent-froni'the following detailed de-* .scription ofthe presentinvention.

The invention consists, primarily in the novel constructlon'of contact-device hereinafter more particularly set forth; and, furj hermore, this invention -consists in the various novel arrangements and combinations of the devices and parts, as well as in the various details of the construction of the same, all of which will be more" fully described in the Specification of Letters Batent.

E accompany] Patented Dec. 1- 1999.

Serial No. 472.089.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the c n drawings. in which Figure 1 is a top or plan view of the novel construction or contact device embodying exact description oi the invention. such as .2 is a side elevation of the same.

reference being had to the accompanying 5 the principles of the present invention. Fig. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same, said section being" drawn upon an enlarged scale. Fig. at a plan or top view of a slightly modified construction of contact- I device. also embodying the principles of the The present invention relates to improvepresent invention. Fig. 5 is aside elevation of the same. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same, drawn on an enlarged scale.

Similar characters of reference are em ployed in all of the above described'views to indi -ate correspt'uuling parts.

Reterring now to the said drawings..the reference-(haracter 1 indicates the coinplete contact-device embodying the principles of a bridge-piece 2 which is provided at each end thereof with downwardly extending members 3. each of said members 3 being provided with an outwardly extending lug or projection 4.

The rcterence-character 5 indicates a cylindrical contact-holder provided with a longitudinally extending rectangular opening or hole 6. The said contact-holder 5 is further provided. at its lower end, with a shoulder 7 and with a reduced portion 8. said reduced portion 8 being provided with an external screw-thread 9, adapted to screw into a suitably disposed sci-civ-threaded' opening 10 in said bridge-piece 2. The'tsaid contact-holder 5 is further provided at its upper end with. an annular flange 11.. Ar-

ranged upon the said shoulder T is a pcrfm rated disk 12. which is provided at its peripheral edge with an upwardly extending rib or flange 13-,thc saiddisk 12 resting pretfe ably upon the upper surface of said bridge-piece 2.

The 7 reference character l -lindicates a tubular member adapted to be arranged over or around said contact-liolderfi. This said tubular member 14 is provided at its lower end with a chamtercd edge-portion 15. which is adapted to be fitted within and be gui'dedfby the rib or flange 13 of said disk 12. The upper end of said tubular-member 14 is provided with an outwardly extending I flange 16,.the edges of which may be knurled,

' holder 5. The said tubular member being of larger inside diameter than the outer di- 1 ameter of; said contact-holder 5, a space or chamber 19 is provided in which is arranged a coiled spring 20, said spring extending around said contact-holder 5 and having its u per end bearing against the, said flange 18 of said tubular-member 1 while the lower end thereof bears against said disk 12, thereby causing a strong frictional engagement between the said flange 18 of said tubular member 14 and said flange 11 of the contactholder 5, which arrangement of these parts prevents any accidental turning of said tubular member let, due to excessive vibration, jars, or other extraneous causes. The said tubular-member 14 is provided at its upper end, above the said flange 18, with an internal screw-thread 21. Screwed down upon the said screw-thread 21 is a perforated cappiece 22, the perforation or hole of which is provided with an internal screw-thread23. This capepicce 22 is further provided upon its top-surface with a receiving recess or socket 24, and screwed upon said screwthread 23, by means of a screw-threaded portion 25, is the head 26 of an adjusting screw-holder, said head 26 being preferably provided with a knurled flange 27 for manipulating said head to insert or remove the said adjusting screw-threaded portion 25 from its operative relation with said cappiece 22. The said head 26 is further provided with a flanged portion 28 which is fitted into said receiving recess or socket 2st of said cap piece 22. Extending downwardly from said head 26, and preferably forming an integral part thereof, is an adjusting screw or shank 29 which is provided with a suitable screw-thread 30. Slidably arranged within said rectangular opening or hole 6 of said contact-holder 5 is a rectangular contact-piece 31 which is provided with a screw-threaded receiving-recess or. socket 32 adapted toreceive and engage the screw-threads 30 of said adjusting screw or shank 29.

The outer surface of the chainfered end 15 of said tubular-member 14 may be provided with graduations or marks 33, to aid in determining the amount of adjustment given or imparted to said contact-piece 31, when the device is operated.

To operate the above described contactdevice, so as to adjust the same, it is simply necessary to turn or revolve the tubularmember 1+1, the turning movement being imparted to the cap-piece 22 and to the adjusting screw-holder, since they are carriedthe turning movement. The. said contactpiece is thus prevented from turning, because of its rectangular cross-section, which is slidably arranged in the simllarl formed hole or opening in said contact-hol er. The

spring 20, causing the frictional engagement of the revoluble parts with the stationary parts of the device, revents any accidental turning of said revo uble parts, as above described, and thereby automatically locks or retains the said contact-piece 31 in any of its adjusted positions. It will also be readily understood, that owing to the screw-adjustment, coupled with this feature of automatically lockingat any point, permits of j a very minute degree of adjustment of said contact-piece.

Referring now more particularly to Figs.

4, 5 and 6 of the drawings, there is illustrated therem a slightly modified construction of contact-device which, however, op-

erates upon the same principle and secures the same results as above described in connection with the construction shown in said Figs. 1, 2 and 3' of the drawings. In this modified construction of contact-device, as illustrated in the said Figsml, 5 and 6, the reference-charaeterthtindicatesabridge-piece of similar'construction as that above de scribed, it being clearly understood, that this constructimi may be greatly varied in the previously described construction of contact device, as well as in this modification thereof, since its shape or construction in no way contributes to the operation of said contact device.

The reference character 35 indicates a contact-holder provided with a screw-threaded reduced portion 35' adapted to be screwed into a screw-threaded hole or perforation in said bridge-piece 34. T his said contactholder 3.? is provided with a longitudinally extending rectangular hole or opening 36,

terminating in an enlarged recess or socket .37 at the-upper end of said contact-holder end with ap inwardly. extending annular .fl'an 'e 40. at a )ted to engage with the under 2-. y a i n side of the flange 38 of said contact-holder crew-thread i1. and screwed upon said screw-thread 41 is a cap-piece 4L- whichis provided with a perforation or opcninghaaing'a'n internal screw-thread i3. tlidably arranged'in said rectangular opening 36 is a-contact-piece id, said piece being provided I at its upper end with an adjusting screw or shank if), substantially as shown. Said screw oi shanli L5 is provided with a screwtliread i6 which is adapted'to be engaged by the screw-tln'eads 4b of said cap-piece 42.

A coiled .spring lT'is arrai'igcd' around saidcontact-piece H. one end thereof rest ing in the receiving-recess or socket 37 of said contact-holder 37 and the other end thereof bears'against thennderside of said cap-piecedi thereby causing a strong frictionalengagement of the flanges 38 and-40 of .the contact holder 35 and thetubular .memher 39 r spectively;

"From the foregoing description it will be clearly evident thatl have produced a simple and efficient contact-device capable of a minutely variable range of adj ustment', and which isv very useful'in connection with make and breakdevices and other electrical apparatus.- l v I am fully aware that some changesmay bexmade in the-general arrangements and combinations of the various devices and parts, 'without departing frornthe scope of my present invention as set forth in the foregoing specification, and asdefined theclaims which are appended to the same. Hence I do notlimitmy invention to the exactarrangements and combinations of the devices and parts as described in the said specification, nor do I confine myself'totric exact details .of the construction of any of the said parts.

I claim 1. A contact device comprising astationary'element, a contact-piece slidably arranged in said stationary element, a revolving element encircling saidstationary element, means connecting said revolving ele- 'ment'- with said contact-piece for raising and lowering the same in. said stationaryclement, and means for automatically holding onlookm-g saidrevolving-element: at any point in its revolution, consisting of a flange upon said stationary element, and a flange upon said revolving. element in frictional engagement therewith, and a coiled spring for maintaining the'frictional engagement of .said flanges, substantially as and for the pi'irposes set forth.

2. Aicontact device, comprising a station- .arylelementprovided with a longitudinal picce slidably arranged; in said rectangular opening of said stationary element, a IGVOlY: ing element encircling said stationary inr-nt. means counter-ting said revolving eleincnt with said contact-piecefor raising and lowering the-same in said. longitudinal rec- 'tangular opening of said stationary element, and means' for automatically holding or 3 locking said revolving clem nt at any point. I in its revolution, consisting of a flange upon said revolving element in frictional engagen'icnt therewith, and a coiled spring for nniintaining the frictional engagement of said flanges, substantially and for the purposes set. forth.

A contact device. comprising a stationary elementprovidcd with a longitudinal rectangular opening. a rectangular contact- ,piece-slidably arrangedin said rectangular opening of said stationary element, a revolvan adjusting screw carried by said revolving element, said screw having a screw-tln'eaded portion in engagement with saidcontactpiece to raise and lower. said contact-piece in said longitudinal rectangular opening of said stationary element, and means for antomatically holding or locking said revolving element at f any point in 1ts' revolution, consisting of a flange upon said stationary element, and a flange upon said revolving element in frictional engagement therewith,

frictional'engagelnent ,of said flanges, sub: stantiallyas andfor the purposes set forth.

4. A contact de'vice comprising a stationary element provided with a longitudinal rectangular opening, an outwardly extending flange upon the upper end of said tionary-element, 'a revolving element, an inardly extending flange connected with said revolving element adapted to engage fric tionall'v with said outwardly extending flange .-0f saic statio'nary'element, a'coiled spring arranged to maintain the frictional engage- Inent ofsaid outwardly and inwardly revolving element adapted to engage friction-ally with said out\ *ardly extending flange of said stationary element, a coiled spring arranged to maintain the frictional engage ele-' said stationary element. and a flange upon,

mg elementencirclingsaid stationary element tending flanges, an adjusting screw carded and a coiled spring for maintaining the ll l wa'rdly extending'flange connected with said ment of said outwardly and inwardly extending flanges, a cap-piece secured tov the upper end or said revolving element, an adjusting screw carried by said cap-piece, and a rectangular contact piece provided With a screw-threaded receiving socket adapted to receive said adjusting screw, said contactpiece being slidably arranged in the rectangular opening of said stationary element, substantially as and for'the purposes set forth. 6. A contact device comprising-a station: ary element provided with a longitudinal rectangular opening, a shoulder on said stas tionary element, a flanged disk arranged on said shoulder, a screw-threaded reduced portionextending from the lower end of said stationary element, an outwardly. extending flange upon the upper end of said stationary element, a tubular revolving element, said element being formed with achamfered portion on the lower end thereof adapted to register with said flanged disk, a knurled flange upon the upper end of said tubular revolving element, an inwardly extending flange upon the inner Surface of said tubular revolving element adaptedito engage with the seam under side of said outwardly-extending flange of said stationary element, a coiled spring arranged upon said flanged disk between said stationary and said revolving elements, the upper end of said coiled spring bearing upon the inwardly extending flange of said tubular revolving element,- a cap-piece operatively engage said adjusting screw, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony, that I claim the invention set forth. above I have hereunto set my hand this eighth day of January, 1909,

JAMES M; SMITH.

Witnesses: I

FREBK. l -nenn'rznn, FREDIL W. Fnannrznn. 

